How Long Does it Take to Become a Doctor

This question always comes up among future medical students as they seek a suitable medical school and pursue medical education choices.

Our helpful guide will provide you with all the requirements for an average medical school and share a helpful medical career matrix to clear things up.

Quick Stats

To give you a short answer — it’s not a weekend project!

As a rule, it takes 11-16 years in the United States. Think of a 4-year college education + 4 years of medical school + 3-7 years of residency. Then, if you choose a sub-specialty, it takes 1-3 years. It must be noted that residents are paid while training.

The fastest route from high school: you can join a highly competitive program for 6-7 years, like BS/MD programs.

The shortest time to become a doctor will always vary by specialty:

• Family/Internal/Pediatrics — approximately 3 years.
• Psych/OB-GYN/Anesthesiology — approximately 4 years.
• General Surgery — approximately 5 years.
• Neurosurgery — approximately 7 years.

As you can see, completing medical school is not an easy task, as every medical school prerequisite is only a step for aspiring doctors. Even the basic medical training always takes time as you begin medical school studies in the United States or any other country.

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Comparing Traditional and Fast-Track Routes to Becoming a Doctor in the USA

Starting from a traditional high school for an undergraduate degree:

• 4 years of college education are obligatory in understanding how long it takes to become a doctor;
• 4 years to attend medical school;
• 3-7 years of residency;
• Optional fellowship of 1-3 years.

As a result, we are getting 11-16+ years, depending on your choices.

A fast-track route (BS/MD) degree:

• 6-7 years to MD/DO;
• 3-7 years of residency;
• Optional fellowship studies.

In learning how many years does it take to become a doctor, this option fits those students who already have a prior medical background. The basic medical school requirements here are much more challenging in this case.

How Many Years to Become a Doctor for Students & Residents?

If you are pursuing your career from a bachelor’s degree:

• 4 y. of medical school;
• 3-7 y. of residency with a clinical practice at a special med school;
• 1-3 y. of a fellowship for specialties like osteopathic manipulative treatment (optional).

Quick Note: A typical resident’s salary ranges from $55K to $65K annually, with potential for higher earnings based on medical knowledge and residency programs. Understanding how many years of study to become a doctor in USA makes this investment even more valuable.

U.S. Pathway Overview (Step-by-Step Guide)

Undergraduate Studies (4 years)

How long do you have to go to college to be a doctor?

As a rule, undergraduate times will require meeting prerequisites, extracurriculars, research/clinical exposure, and MCAT timing of around 300-500 hours of preparation as a benchmark.

According to the American Medical Association, the common requirements are as follows:

• A four-year degree (B.A. or B.S.) from an accredited university.
• A strong GPA.
• Pre-med courses, including one year each of biology, general (inorganic) chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, to cover basic medical sciences.
• A good MCAT score.
• Letters of recommendation for a chosen medical specialty.
• Extracurricular activities, including clinical experience, potential nursing project ideas, clinical skills, and volunteer work.
• Submitting an AAMC PREview or CASPer score (if required).

Medical School (4 years)

It requires 2 years of pre-clinical studies and two more years of clinical rotations.

You can also do clerkships. They will positively affect the fastest way to become a doctor. Since medical doctors recommend these, do not miss them! They have the following benefits:

• You practice medicine as a medical student (M.D., D.O., D.P.M.) during our final months of studies.
• You receive special medical school training in the classroom setting.
• The second half of your training happens in a teaching hospital.
• You receive supervision from the medical specialists.
• A clinical clerkship also helps you to choose a future specialty.

In certain cases, you may consider financial aid if you are continuing your medical education under specific conditions related to high school and undergraduate education.

Licensing Exams

The next step is to pass the licensing exam. It is not the same as a medical college admission test. The talk concerns the USMLE, or the United States Medical Licensing Examination. It is offered all year round. There are three steps:

• The first checks your understanding of basic sciences crucial for practice.
• The second step evaluates your clinical knowledge and ability to handle medical concepts correctly.
• The third step is the application of your medical knowledge. The final step to licensure also allows you to practice medicine independently.

Note: A national ID must be present before admission to the test! Be sure to read the rules in the link above.

Residency (3-7 years)

Once you receive your ECFMG certification, you must complete an accredited residency training program.

What is the shortest time to become a doctor? Now, the process will take at least 36 months. The most important milestones here are the internship or preliminary time, the call-schedule period, and the actual payment.

You must also enter a national resident matching program first to be eligible.

Your medical school application must be presented neatly to reflect your three to seven academic periods of experience. You can see a complete list of requirements here by visiting the AAFP website. It helps to learn all about a medical residency.

Remember that writing a personal statement essay is also an obligatory requirement. It’s a vital part of your medical career path chosen by healthcare professionals worldwide.

Fellowship

It usually takes from 12 to 36 months and remains optional. Various medical specialties may see it as a requirement, yet it is not always the case.

A fellowship will be helpful for medical specialties like cardiologists, neurologists, oncologists, or pediatric surgeons.

Since most residency programs will give you some options, it is wise to consider them for these specialties for advanced training before you become a practicing physician.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Doctor by Specialty?

So, how long does it take to become a doctor in the US? The table below gives you a list by specialty:

Note: Learning how many years to be a doctor, remember that medical students only require a preliminary internship year if they aim for an advanced type of residency known as the PGY-2. Any categorical position will have the PGY-1 standard intern year already present. It means that you do not have to apply for additional preliminary training.

You can see the full list of requirements and specifics by visiting the ACMGE website.

From High School: Three Realistic Roadmaps With Timelines

An Accelerated Path

You can choose the 6-7 year BS/MD route. It is quite competitive and will vary from school to school. To learn more, see the Participating Specialties & Programs list by AAMC.

Additionally, be sure to check the Specialty Profiles and Careers in Medicine list, which will help you see the competition and decide.

Early Assurance Route

This option will require 36 to 47 months with no MCAT at certain schools. Such programs allow you to secure matriculation early in your undergraduate life. Still, a pre-approval from a medical school is necessary. This system works by screening during the first and second years before medical school.

• The problem is that you will still have to do 11-15 y. in total.
• The benefit is that your enrollment chances before you enter medical school are much higher.

Traditional Path

It will include the “4+4 and 3 to 7 additional years” formula.

Think about AP, shadowing, MCAT tests, passing through your junior year, and more. Much will depend on your specialty as you start medical school studies. Some technical knowledge, like that of Astra Nova students, might speed things up as you use technology resources.

Such a path is also known as the realistic “turning 30” age, as you complete your studies.

Year-by-Year Timelines to Choose a Starting Point

Of course, some things will depend on your chosen undergraduate programs. It is possible to outline three routes:

• Track A: High School — Attending

It is the age-based timeline where you go from 14 to 30.

• Track B: After Bachelor’s Degree Life — Attending

Here we have the GAP year and post-bachelor’s period, from none to two years of life. You can see Postbaccalaureate Programs by AAMC to learn more.

• Track C: Non-Traditional

The solution here is for those who want to change careers while they are under 25. According to Princeton University, AMMC lists over 145 post-bac career changer programs. There are even “Start from Scratch” solutions.

Cost, Payments, and Life Milestones

The typical residency salary will be around $57K-65, yet it will always depend on the state and the year of studies.

The higher levels appear in later PGYs. If you become adjusted to working long hours beyond 60-80 hours per week, you will earn a modest hourly rate. Still, the long-term payoffs are quite significant.

Expect an increase of $5,000 each year as you move higher. Once again, quite a lot depends on your location and the medical field.

Exams and Licensure (Important Changes to Consider)

Before you begin practicing medicine, certain exams and licensure procedures must be considered.

It must be noted that Step 1 CS has been officially canceled on March 16, 2020. Since January 26, 2022, the ESMLE Step 1 has been moved to a Pass/Fail scoring system. It has been done mostly because of concerns about student health and wellness during the first two years of attendance.

The talk is about a medical school and related mental health issues. Most students accepted the change as their mental health had suffered before the changes. You can take Step 2 for 4 attempts. Step 3 can also be done without supervision.

Summing Things Up

No matter what path you will take, always study medical school requirements first because medical research will differ.

For example, osteopathic medicine will require more hands-on practice and graduation credits, while patient care is a part of a standard fellowship experience.

Be sure to visit all the links below and check our table for more information.

Further Reading

To stay informed about all the important changes and divisions by states, make sure to visit the following resources while continuing medical education:

• United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) announcements page
• List of medical degrees by AAMC
• Choosing a Specialty with Careers in Medicine by AAMC
• Healthcare Salary Calculator by Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
• Residency Length Explanation by Ross University School of Medicine

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